Quick answer: Right after a drop: check for sharp glass and cover cracks with clear packing tape, look for a swollen or smoking battery, and turn the phone off if it also got wet. Within the first hour, back up your photos and test the screen, touch, cameras and Face ID. Then get it repaired before small cracks spread or dust and moisture get in. Our phone repair shop in Eagan does free diagnosis with any repair and same-day screen repairs, and our iPhone repair in Eagan team handles every iPhone model from the 11 to the 17 Pro Max.
Key takeaways
- Safety first: broken glass cuts fingers and faces, and a damaged battery can overheat.
- Back up now. A phone that works after a drop can fail hours or days later.
- A drop can damage more than the glass: touch, the display panel, cameras, Face ID and the battery can all be affected.
- Small cracks almost always spread. Repairing early is cheaper than waiting until the touch layer fails.
In this guide
The First 10 Minutes
- Check for loose glass. Run a finger gently around the edges. If glass is lifting, splintering or sharp, stop using the phone against your face.
- Cover the cracks. Put a strip of clear packing tape or a cheap screen protector over the cracked area. It holds shards in place and keeps dust out until the repair.
- Look for battery warning signs. A bulging back, a screen lifting away from the frame, a hissing sound, smoke or a chemical smell means the battery is damaged. Put the phone on a non-flammable surface, away from anything that can burn, and do not charge it.
- If it fell in water or snow, turn it off. Do not charge it. Water plus a crack is the fastest way to lose a phone. See how to get water out of a charging port and bring it in within a day.
The First Hour: Back Up and Test
Back up first. On an iPhone, go to Settings > your name > iCloud > iCloud Backup and tap Back Up Now, or connect it to a computer. On Android, check that Google Photos (or Samsung Cloud) has finished syncing and back up contacts and messages. If the touch screen is failing, do this before it stops working completely.
Then test the phone:
| Test | How | What a problem looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Touch | Open a notes or drawing app and draw lines across the whole screen | Lines break in one area, or the phone taps by itself |
| Display | Look at a white and a black screen at full brightness | Lines, dark or bright spots, green tint, flicker |
| Cameras | Open the camera and switch between every lens, front and back | Blurry, hazy, black image, or the lens rattles |
| Face ID or fingerprint | Lock the phone and unlock it | Face ID not available, fingerprint not recognized |
| Speakers and microphone | Play a video; record a short voice memo | Crackling, muffled or no sound |
| Charging | Plug it in with a known-good cable | Does not charge, or only at an angle |
| Buttons | Press volume, side and home buttons | Stuck or unresponsive |
What the Damage Means
- Cracked glass, everything works: a front glass or screen replacement. Repair soon, before cracks spread into the touch layer.
- Screen works but touch does not: the digitizer (touch layer) is damaged. See phone touch screen not responding.
- Lines, spots or a black screen but the phone rings or vibrates: the display panel is damaged. See lines on an iPhone screen and bright spot on an iPhone screen.
- Phone will not turn on: could be the screen, battery or board. See why won’t my phone turn on.
- Cracked back glass: not just cosmetic; it lets moisture in and can cut you. See iPhone back glass replacement in Eagan.
- Cracked camera lens: hazy photos or flare. A lens glass replacement is much cheaper than a new camera. See iPhone camera repair in Eagan.
What Not to Do
- Do not keep using a phone with loose or splintered glass against your face.
- Do not press on a bulging phone or try to “flatten” it.
- Do not use super glue or nail polish on cracks. It seeps under the glass and makes the repair harder.
- Do not charge a phone that is hot, swollen or wet.
- Do not factory reset a phone that is acting strangely after a drop until your data is backed up.
- Do not try a DIY screen kit on a newer phone unless you are experienced. It is easy to damage Face ID, the display cable or the battery.
AppleCare+, Carrier Insurance and Warranties
Before paying for a repair, check what coverage you have. AppleCare+ covers accidental damage for a service fee ($29 for a cracked iPhone screen or back glass, according to Apple). Samsung Care+ and carrier plans (Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T) also cover accidental damage, usually with a deductible. Some credit cards include phone protection if you pay your phone bill with them. A standard manufacturer warranty does not cover drops. If you do not have coverage, or the deductible is higher than a local repair, a local shop is often the faster and cheaper choice. Our Apple Store vs. local iPhone repair guide compares the options.
Repair Now or Wait?
A tiny chip in a corner can sometimes wait a few weeks. But in our experience at the shop, cracks almost always spread with normal use, pocket pressure and temperature changes, and Minnesota winters make that faster. Once a crack reaches the touch layer, you start getting dead spots or ghost touches, and water resistance is gone as soon as the glass cracks. Repairing early costs the same as repairing late, and it avoids the risk of losing the phone (and your data) completely.
Screen Repair Prices in Eagan
| Phone | Screen replacement at Helpertech Eagan |
|---|---|
| iPhone 11 | $120 to $140 |
| iPhone 12 and 13 series | $120 to $160 |
| iPhone 14 and 15 series | $125 to $175 |
| iPhone 16 series | $145 to $220 |
| iPhone 17 series | $275 to $365 |
| Samsung Galaxy S20 to S25 | $240 to $400 depending on model |
| Google Pixel and other Android phones | Call 651-427-9087 for a free quote |
For iPhones, the lower price in each range is an LCD replacement screen and the higher price is an OLED screen. Prices are from our repair pricing page, and every repair includes a 90-day warranty. For more detail, see iPhone screen repair cost, iPhone 17 repair cost and Samsung screen replacement cost.
Getting It Fixed the Same Day in Eagan
Helpertech is at 2040 Cliff Rd #103 in Eagan, open Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm, and we have been fixing phones in the Twin Cities since 1995. Walk in, get a free diagnosis with any repair in minutes and a clear price before any work. Most iPhone screen replacements and Samsung screen repairs are done the same day, often while you wait. We regularly help customers from Eagan, Apple Valley, Burnsville, Inver Grove Heights, Mendota Heights and Rosemount.
Related phone repair guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do right after I crack my phone screen?
Check for sharp or loose glass, cover the cracks with clear packing tape, look for signs of a swollen battery, and back up your photos. Then get a free diagnosis with any repair so small cracks do not spread into the touch layer.
Is it safe to use a phone with a cracked screen?
For a short time, if the glass is not splintering and the battery is not swollen. Loose glass can cut your fingers and face, and a cracked screen is no longer water resistant. Cover the cracks with tape and repair it soon.
My phone screen went black after I dropped it. Is it broken?
If the phone still rings, vibrates or makes sounds, it is on and the display panel or its connection is damaged. A screen replacement usually fixes it, and your data stays on the phone.
Will a cracked phone screen get worse?
Almost always. Pocket pressure, temperature changes and small drops make cracks spread. Once they reach the touch layer, you can get dead spots or ghost touches, which is why repairing early is the better choice.
Does AppleCare+ cover a cracked screen?
Yes. AppleCare+ covers accidental damage, and Apple charges a $29 service fee for a cracked iPhone screen or back glass. A standard warranty does not cover drops.
Can you fix a cracked phone the same day in Eagan?
Yes. At Helpertech in Eagan, most iPhone and Samsung screen repairs are done the same day, often while you wait. Walk in Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm, at 2040 Cliff Rd #103.
Cracked or Dropped It? Get It Fixed Today in Eagan
Walk in to Helpertech at 2040 Cliff Rd #103, Eagan, MN 55122, Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm. Free diagnosis with any repair, a clear quote before any work, same-day screen repairs for iPhone, Samsung and Pixel, and a 90-day warranty.
About the author: This guide was written by the Helpertech repair team, the technicians at our Eagan phone repair shop at 2040 Cliff Rd #103. Helpertech has been repairing phones, tablets and computers in the Twin Cities since 1995. Prices were checked against our repair pricing page in September 2026.
